Chapter 16.3 - Thousand Blade Academy and the Big Five Holy Festival [6] – part 3 (2/2)

Right there,

「Fuun, fuunfufuun, fuun!」

Allen approached while humming – a second black sword was held in his hand.

「Well then, one more blow…」

Allen laughed innocently like a child in front of Sid, who didn’t even twitch.

Then, the moment he lifted up the black sword overhead joyfully,

「Stop it already, Allen…!」

Ria forced her way in between the two of them.

「…Aa?」

「This is overkill! A-Allen is not someone who does such a terrible thing!」

「…Who the hell are you?」

His ice-cold eyes tightened Ria’s heart.

Still, she spoke out firmly.

「I-I am Ria-Vesteria! ……Look, did you forget? It’s your slave Ria-Vesteria!」

「Haa? Don’t know… If you get in my way, I’ll kill you too.」Allen said, indifferently with cold eyes devoid of any emotions – and pointed the tip of the black sword at Ria.

「…A-Allen? Are you serious…?」

Her faint voice echoed throughout the venue. But there was only one place it didn’t resonate – Allen’s heart. Ria pleaded desperately with tears in her eyes. Not to Allen who is here now, but to the usual gentle Allen.

「Y-You remember right, Allen !? We ate Ramzac together and talked a lot together! Sometimes we have little fights ! But it was always so much fun…!」

As she recounted their memories, tears began to overflow from her eyes.

「Tch, such a noisy woman… That’s enough, die.」

Allen, looking frustrated, swung the overhead black sword off-handedly – down to Ria’s chest.

「Please… Return to your usual kind self… Allen!」

At that moment, his arm suddenly halted – the black sword fell from his hand.

「A-Allen…!?」

Allen, with an agonized expression, dropped down to one knee with his left hand holding his chest.

「If you can take back control from me… Then… you should’ve given your best… from the start…」

Then he slowly collapsed on the spot.

His long white hair returned to his usual black hair, and the black pattern that was under his left eye disappeared.

「A-Allen…!? Are you alright…!?」

Ria ran up to Allen, who was panting heavily, and raised his head to her lap.

「R-Ria… sorry… for scaring you…」

Allen reached for Ria’s cheek with foggy consciousness.

「No, it’s alright… So don’t worry…」

She held his hand gently and never let go.

「Your voice, reached me… thank you…」

At the end of those words,

「…Allen? Nee, Allen…? Respond, Allen!」

He quietly lost consciousness.